An author who credits the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards with kick-starting her writing career has condemned Campbell Newman for axing the initiative, joining a chorus of arts community criticism.

Author Tara June Winch, who is now based in Paris, said last night she was saddened by the news as she owed her career and livelihood to Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.

Campbell Newman says the government's move to axe the Premier's Literary Awards was part of a promised cost-cutting drive.

She attended the event nearly 10 years ago when she was in her late teens to see what “real” authors were doing and being recognised for. It inspired her to write a manuscript that won the David Unaipon Award – a category in the awards for unpublished indigenous writers. Swallow The Air was later published and won other state literary awards and was shortlisted in Queensland.

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“It's purely because of a succession of inspiring encounters, and the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards that my career was given flight,” Winch said.

“I'm not a native Queenslander but so many people assume I am because of what the Queensland state gave me – a career and a voice, my life completely changed because of the opportunities the awards gave me. I'll be forever thankful to the Queensland Premier's Awards.”

Winch was one of numerous literary voices to yesterday express support for the awards and disappointment at the new LNP government's decision to scrap them.

“[They] have created an opportunity for Queensland writers to be published for the first time and to promote really great emerging works of Queensland literature,” she said.

Ms Eltham pointed to the success experienced by nurse-turned-author Karen Foxlee who won the 2006 emerging author manuscript award, saying her novel The Anatomy of Wings subsequently became a best-seller and was also published in several other countries.

She said the Queensland Writers Centre had observed a surge in the number of people interested in writing.

“I can’t comment on why the government decided they needed to cut this money, or program, but in terms of the Queensland Writers Centre we’re really keen to see how the government will reinvest it in writing,” Ms Eltham said.

“If they don’t see value in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, what else can they do to invest in emerging writers in Queensland to provide opportunities for Queensland literature?”

Independent Melbourne-based publisher Black Inc expressed sadness on Twitter, saying it had just published the first book of Queensland writer Nikki McWatters, whose manuscript was originally shortlisted for the emerging author award in Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.

“The Premier and the Arts Minister, Ros Bates, need to provide an explanation why they have cut these important awards,” she said through a spokesman.

“Ms Bates also needs to explain whether she had input into the decision or whether she has been directed by Campbell Newman.

“This is a disturbing sign of things to come. What will be cut next – school literacy programs? The Ready Readers initiative?”

A spokeswoman for Mr Newman said the LNP had been “clear in communicating its plan to control government spending” while aiming to return the budget to surplus, revitalise frontline services and lower the cost of living.

“As part of this plan, existing programs will continue to be reviewed to determine if the cost of these initiatives could contribute to this savings strategy,” she said in a written statement.

“In light of this, the Queensland government has decided not to proceed with the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards in 2012 which will save Queensland taxpayers $244,475, not including the cost of resourcing the awards.

“The government would like to acknowledge all the sponsors, judges, stakeholders, entrants and winners for their valued contribution to the program to date.”

However, ousted Labor Education Minister Cameron Dick said axing the awards would save $250,000 out of a $47 billion state budget.

Brisbane author John Birmingham, who is also a blogger for brisbanetimes.com.au, said he believed Mr Newman had made a calculation that the LNP was “not going to lose many, if any, votes out of getting rid of this prize and out of slashing the hell out of a lot of arts budgets”.

“It [literary funding] makes a big difference to the people who are getting it, obviously, but in terms of the state budget, there's probably bigger tough cuts that he could make, but they're much tougher to sell,” Birmingham said.

The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards have been running since 1999. The awards last year carried a range of cash prizes, with a $25,000 lure for the top fiction book, $20,000 for an emerging Queensland author, and $20,000 for an unpublished indigenous writer.

The LNP raised criticism last year when a book by former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks was shortlisted for an award.

Before the election, the LNP pledged to cut government "waste" as part of its efforts to offer cost-of-living relief to Queenslanders. The LNP raised concern the state was heading towards $85 billion in debt and argued spending must be reined in, but made about $4 billion in election promises that it insisted would be fully offset by savings.

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153 comments so far

To all the people complaining about this, Put you money where your mouth is! If you really believe this is a worthy cause, start a foundation and fund it yourselves.

Can't you see QLD has no money left? Newman is just trying to plug the leaks in a sinking ship.

Commenter

Dave

Location

QLD

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 12:09AM

Dave, appears that with this comment you have just qualified for a role in Mr Newman's finance department. I agree that money needs to be saved but you don't scrap QLD Arts Heritage, nor do you scrap any opportunity for the development of our state. 14BILLION dollar budget and he's squeezing less than a quarter of a million out of one of queensland's best supports for the arts! That's exactly like going to buy a $14000 car and going to another dealer to save yourself 25cents! Anyone who thinks that this will make a difference to the budget is deluded!

Commenter

ch^os

Location

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 6:34AM

So Dave thats a cut of 0.00053%. Or if you like thats $5.30 in a $1,000,000.00. Dave, five bucks in a million is not going to plug any leaks, it's not even enough to buy a bung. It's chest thumping Dave, and just plain petty.

Commenter

Eco-worrier

Location

Sunrise Beach

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 6:35AM

Hope they take up your suggestion. A wonderful opportunity to show just how dedicated they are.

Commenter

Dad

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 6:43AM

Totally agree with you, Dave. The cuts have to start somewhere and I would rather it be with handouts rather than with somone's job.

Commenter

Grahame

Location

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 6:52AM

You don't need to enter a competition to write (or read) a book. This one line item of waste is being unfairly singled out from a multitude of wasteful spending that was par for the course from the Labor government. Think how fewer library books Queensland can afford now with $90 billion of debt and a $4 billion deficit thanks to Labor.

As for the aspiring writer who has condemned the shelving of the awards - get a job while you write and work hard like the rest of us.

Commenter

Gappian

Location

The Gap

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 7:03AM

Dave,

I will happily pay for a literary award. If you pay for the Commonwealth Games.

Commenter

scot

Location

auchenflower

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 7:12AM

So it's fine to spend heaps on the Commonwealth Games is it ? Maybe we should charge to compete. That would really put Qld on the world map.

What's this $65-68 billion debt figure being thrown around. Thought Peter Costello was hired to find out how much is owing ?

Maybe Anna's biggest mistake was not taxing us and the mining companies enough ?

Can we expect to see pensioner rebates for electricity & rates cut ? huh ?

When did the coal exports stop huh ?

When did the cattle exports stop huh ?

No sign of LNP government or inquiries being cut ? huh ?

But we have beaten both the Victorian and New South Wales conservative governments ( who have both been in power for a year ) in the race to the bottom rung.

Commenter

J. Fraser

Location

Queensland

Date and time

April 04, 2012, 7:35AM

@Gappian - Whilst I am an aspiring writer, I do in fact have a full time job and probably work harder than you have ever worked. Your assumption that all artists sit on their backside doing nothing is not only completely without foundation but also completely without experience to back it up. What little time I have outside of Work and my band, I spend writing my book. and the feedback so far is rather good. I'd like to see you produce something more creative than a neanderthalic passing of gas! Maybe then I'll consider your opinion valid but until then, keep your opinion of artists locked in your forbidden cupboard along with the scerics of your knowledge of modern culture!